People Are Dying, But This Seems Like a Good Use of Energy

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



House Lawmakers Unveil Resolution Blaming China For The Coronavirus
A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a resolution that blames China for causing a global pandemic and calls on the Chinese government to publicly declare that COVID-19 began there. Yes, while there are people dying in the midst of health crisis, not to mention a disturbing rise in hate crimes in Asians, pointing fingers seems to be the best use of our time, energy and resources.

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"You fucking Chinese, spreading the coronavirus."
In Brooklyn, an Asian man waiting for the subway was accosted by a stranger who spit on him and threatened him in a coronavirus-related hate crime. According to police, the 26-year-old victim was on the Atlantic Avenue 2/3 platform on Tuesday morning when 19-year-old Nicholas Theodore confronted him, saying "You fucking Chinese, spreading the coronavirus. You people got the virus." He then spit in the victim's face and mimicked having a gun, jamming his hand in his coat pocket and pointing his finger. The victim alerted a nearby police officer and Theodore was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime and menacing.

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Chef Floyd Cardoz, Who Elevated Indian Cuisine, Has Died Of Coronavirus
Floyd Cardoz, an influential chef who married regional Indian cuisine with French and new American flavors, died Wednesday morning of complications from the coronavirus in New Jersey, at age 59.

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Racism in the Time of Coronavirus
On the latest episode of the podcast Long Distance, host Paola Mardo shares her experience with COVID-19 racism. She also talks to me and Devin Cabanilla about the disturbing rise of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia.

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The Claudia Kishi Club
The documentary short The Claudia Kishi Club, directed by Sue Ding, is a love letter to Claudia Kishi, the iconic Asian American character from The Baby-Sitters Club book series. I'm proud to have a small part in the project.

Surprise, Surprise: Trump Has Shitty Taste in Movies

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Trump Trashes Korean Oscar-Winner Parasite at Rally
President Donald Trump is apparently not a fan of Parasite winning the Oscar for Best Picture, his biggest complaint being that the movie was made in South Korea. "What the hell was that all about?” Trump said at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs. "We've got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give them best movie of the year. Was it good? I don't know." Neon, the U.S. distributor of Parasite, shot back: "Understandable. He can't read." And there it is.

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University at Albany Students Hosted a Coronavirus Party
Over the weekend, students at the State University of New York at Albany apparently hosted a coronavirus-themed party. Video from the party reportedly showed a bucket of Corona beers and a person wearing a surgical mask with the caption, "Corona virus isn't gonna stop anyone from partying." Asian American Alliance, a university student organization, condemned the party, calling it insensitive and racist, while the university is investigating whether the party violated the college's student code of conduct.

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Asian American Content Banner Launches With Valence Media Investment
A-Major Media, a new production company focused on Asian American content, has launched with a majority investment from Valence Media. Led by Mary Lee, projects include I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Yulin Kuang's adaptation of Maurene Goo's 2015 YA novel; an untitled autobiographical project based on the high school experiences of Fresh Off the Boat co-executive producer Kourtney Kang; We Stan, about female friends and fellow K-pop stans, penned by Atypical scribe Lauren Moon; an untitled feature film produced by John Cho; and an untitled television series produced by Gemma Chan, among others.

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'The Black Tapes' Co-creator Inks Multi-Series Deal With Spotify
Podcast veteran Paul Bae, co-creator of fiction series The Black Tapes, has inked a multi-series deal with Spotify, with two new fiction projects in development. In Amanda Chi and the Ghost Sessions, he will tell the story of a Korean-Indian girl who moves to a new school and is initiated into a secret society that finds the town's ghosts and expels them. Boyland, meanwhile, will focus on a disgraced K-pop star who finds new life in Los Angeles when he is recruited into a new supergroup poised to take over the American pop scene.

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The Claudia Kishi Club
If you're headed to SXSW next month, don't miss the world premiere of the documentary short The Claudia Kishi Club, directed by Sue Ding. "For many Asian American women—and other women of color—Claudia Kishi was the first time they saw themselves in popular media. A main character in the best-selling Baby-Sitters Club books, Claudia defied stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters: she was creative, popular, and bad at school. As a blossoming artist, she was a role model for aspiring young creators—many of whom are now making groundbreaking work of their own. Asian American artists and writers share their memories of Claudia and read from their favorite books, alongside stop-motion collages that bring the character to life. Nostalgic yet timely, this film highlights the personal and universal importance of representation."

A Film About Your Favorite Baby-Sitters Club Character

'The Claudia Kishi Club' explores the legacy of Claudia Kishi.



Here's a fun film project that could use your support. The Claudia Kishi Club, by documentary filmmaker Sue Ding, is a love letter to Claudia Kishi, the iconic Japanese American character from the Baby-Sitters Club book series, who inspired a generation of Asian American women and creators of color.

For many Asian Americans who grew up in the 80s and 90s, Claudia was the first time they saw themselves represented in popular culture. A main character in Ann M. Martin's best-selling series, she was one of the only Asian Americans in popular media when the books debuted in 1986. The Claudi Kishi Club explores the character's legacy as a rare Asian American protagonist, a meaningful role model, and of course, a style icon.

The film will feature interview with fans including YA authors C.B. Lee and Sarah Kuhn; comic artist Yumi Sakugawa; and me, Phil Yu, the founder of this website. They also interview producer Naia Cucukov of Walden Media, who is currently adapting The Baby-Sitters Club for a new live-action TV series.

Here's some more information about the film: